Kukla's Korner Hockey

More games like Games 1 and 4, however, and they're going to have to start building bigger arenas. If the NHL ever decides to make entertainment a priority, let the most talented players play and get away from the lowest common denominator wins philosophy, they'll truly have a product they can put up against any other sport.

-Damien Cox of The Spin at the Toronto Star where you can read more on the Stanley Cup Final.

The problem with ever boosting scoring, to grow the score-loving fan base, is that you have to be forever tweaking rules for playing defense—creating more reasons to call penalties—and that, IMO, just invites more diving.

The problem with ever boosting scoring, to grow the score-loving fan base, is that you have to be forever tweaking rules for playing defense—creating more reasons to call penalties—and that, IMO, just invites more diving.

But that’s the main issue with the NHL. They’re always making up stupid rules to help increase scoring when there’s a very simple solution; make the nets 2” wider and taller.
Heck, you might only have to shrink the posts to 1” in diameter.
There’s at least 3 or 4 posts hit every game. At least 1 or 2 of those would be in with shaved posts. Suddenly the league is average 6.5 to 7.5 gpg without making any more dumb rules.

Simply put, the ice and nets are too small for how the game has evolved.
Players are too big (including the goalies and their equipment) and too fast.
And all that size and speed is used on the defensive end. There’s no room to move.
So by simply increasing the size of the scoring area by a few inches, it can help out a bit.

The only other rule I’d like to see the NHL try in preseason is the Bob Gainey rule of disallowing defenders to leave their feet to block a shot or pass.
You’d have more pucks get through, players wouldn’t get injured, and you wouldn’t have to endure Rangers games where you had to endure watching 6 goalies on the ice at all times.

More games like Games 1 and 4, however, and they’re going to have to start building bigger arenas.

Obviously Cox doesn’t understand the business side of hockey. If the game gets more exciting and that, in turn, increases demand, the correct approach is to reduce the supply (the number of seats) so you can charge more per seat. If he has any questions about that, he can contact Jimmy Devallano for all the details.

The Cox comment was a take on the Conn Smythe comment (I think it was old Connie who said it)...something to the effect of “if we keep allowing fighting in the game, we’re going to have to start building bigger arenas”. I’m pretty sure Cox gets the concept of supply and demand.

OTC’s sour like the rest of us about how, as classy as the Orgin-I-zation claims to be, they have no problems telling the fans they plan on pricing out the blue-collar ones from attending games. For a team that probably receives more state-wide support than any other, save Minn, but from a state that’s been suffering economically since 1980, and 3 years after a housing bubble burst.